Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, on Friday urged restraint ahead of a planned protest in Herat, where tensions remain high days after Taliban opened fire on demonstrators protesting the detention of women.
“If planned protest in Herat proceeds today, I urge caution and restraint by all,” Bennett wrote on X.
He also referred to a joint statement issued this week by UN human rights experts, which stressed that law enforcement actions must comply with international human rights law, including the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination.
Bennett’s remarks came as residents of Herat reported an increased Taliban presence across the city, particularly in the predominantly Hazara neighborhood of Jebrail, where protests erupted earlier this week after dozens of women were detained over alleged violations of Taliban dress regulations.
Local residents told Amu TV that discussions were underway about holding another demonstration after Friday prayers, although many expressed concern that heightened security measures could prevent any gathering from taking place.
The warning follows growing international concern over the Taliban’s response to the protests.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed this week that an 11-year-old boy was killed by gunfire during the June 9 demonstration and that several others were injured. The mission said it was also reviewing reports of a second fatality.
UNAMA has previously confirmed that at least 30 women were detained in Herat between June 6 and June 7 by officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and Taliban police for allegedly violating dress-code requirements. The women were later released, the mission said.
On Thursday, Bennett joined several other UN human rights experts in condemning the reported use of force against protesters and calling for an independent investigation into the crackdown.
The experts said Taliban must uphold Afghanistan’s obligations under international human rights law and respect the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and protection from arbitrary detention.
Human Rights Watch and UN Women have also expressed concern over the arrests and the subsequent use of force against demonstrators.
The Taliban have not publicly acknowledged any deaths linked to the protests and have rejected reports of widespread arrests of women in Herat.
